"Two of the things we like best about writing contests are helping other writers and making new writer-friends. After all, we met each other during contests in 2012.

"There aren’t very many opportunities for pre-agented writers to get constructive feedback from agented writers, pub’d writers, and even the occasional agent. THIS is the kind of input that can be worth its weight in gold, or coconut shrimp (hey, it’s the CriTiki Lounge).

"To make things even more fun, we’ll have a new submission theme each week AND a Lounge Lizard who knows it better than he/she knows the bartender.

"In keeping with the relaxed and sociable atmosphere, other writers will also be able to offer their thoughts on the writer’s 'performance.' Don’t worry about hecklers––our bouncer will take care of them. His name is Kohala, yeah, like the volcano."

The CriTiki Lounge just launched in November, and I am so excited to meet new writer friends and offer query feedback. Click here to visit the CriTiki Lounge, and get ready for some fun!

Lisa Ann O'Kane is a young adult author and former vagabond who once camped out in Yosemite National Park for an entire summer, an experience that inspired her debut novel Essence (Strange Chemistry, June 2014).